History of Effingham county, Illinois, Part 38

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 650

USA > Illinois > Effingham County > History of Effingham county, Illinois > Part 38

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BIOGRAPHICAL:

hamlet of about three hundred people, and site of a Congregational Church and academy. Subject clerked in a store for a short time, and came to Illinois in the fall of 1852, and taught school that winter near Rushville, Schuyler Co., Ill., and stud- ied law during that winter by personal effort, and was admitted to the bar at Canton, Mo., in May, 1853, and immediately afterward at Rushville, Ill. During the summer, he taught the academy at Clayton, Ill., a Pres- byterian institution, and one of his pupils was Rev. Leonard W. King, afterward Pro- fessor of Languages in University of Vir- ginia. At the expiration of term of school, he went to Salem, Iowa, where he located for practice, and got some legal work to do in surrounding country towns. He came from Salem directly to Ewington, this county, in May, 1854, and began the practice of law as the partner of W. J. Stephenson, who shortly after removed to Clay County, Ill., the part- nership still existing. Mr. Cooper was but nineteen years old when he came. and at once took the lead, and gave to the Effingham bar its distinctive character. He was married, in December, 1855. to Miss Jane Iddings, of Salem, Iowa. There are two children (sons) living of that marriage, and three dead. The first wife died in November, 1865, and Mr. Cooper married, December 2, 1869, Miss Har- riet E. Leith, of Mason, this county, by which union there are two daughters and a son. Mr. Cooper brought the first printing press to the county, and started the Effing- ham Pioneer, printed at Ewington. He is Strongly Republican.

SAMUEL CLARK, physician, Effingham City, was born in Piketon, Pike Co., Ohio, October 22, 1831, son of John and Abigail (Sumner) Clark, he, born in Cumberland County, Ohio, in 1802, and died in Cincin- nati, Ohio, in 1851; she, born in Peacham,

Caledonia Co., Vt., and died in Shelby Conn- ty, this State, in December, 1876. They were farmers, and the parents of nine chil- dren-four sons and five daughters. Our subject received his early schooling in Ports- mouth, Ohio, and attended a course of study at the Rush Medical College, Chicago, and also at the St. Louis Medical College, where he received his diploma. He was married, in Shelbyville, this State, February 2, 185S, to Miss Margia Harris, born in Shelbyville in May, 1837, daughter of David L. and Eliza- beth Harris, Mr. and Mrs. Clark have had four children, two of whom are living-Dora, now the wife of James T. Potter; and John D., a lawyer by profession, being a graduate of Eureka College, and the Bloomington {Ill. ) Law School. Our subject has always fol . lowed his profession. He practiced about twenty years in Ramsey, this State, about five years in Altamont, this county, and, Oc- tober 5, 1882, he came to Effingham, where he intends to reside in the future. He is at present editor of the Democrat, a weekly journal published at Ramsey, this State. He is also a partner in a general merchandise store on the corner of Jefferson and Front streets, in which a full stock of goods is con- stantly kept. In politics, the Doctor is a conservative Democrat, voting always for whom he considers the best man.

ALANSON CROOKER, landlord, Effing- ham, was born in Delaware County, N. Y., in September, 1812. He came to Lawrence- burg, Ind., when a young man, and there married Agnes Henrietta Craig, and, several years before the war, went to Nashville, Tenn., where he lived twenty years, and while there his wife died, leaving four chil dren-Jacob, Phillip, Mary and Alanson- the youngest being eight years old when the mother died. The youngest son and daugh- ter came North, and were raised by Mrs. W.

EFFINGHAM CITY AND DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP.

H. Blakely, of this county, who was their aunt. Jacob and Phillip joined the Union army. Our subject married a second time, in 1862, to Miss Sarah Staats, daughter of Hiram Staats, of Effingham County. Two children were born of this marriage, of whon one daughter is living. Mr. Crooker pur- chased of William H. Blakely his pioneer homestead in old Ewington, which was said to be the first frame house built in the conn- ty. In this house, after financial reverses in Nashville, Tenn., Mr. Crooker moved in 1868, and lived there until April, 1881, when he moved to Effingham, and is now proprie- tor of the Tea Garden House on Banker street.

PHILIP CROOKER, salesman, Effing- ham, was born in Lawrenceburg, Ind., in 1844. When one year old, he was taken by his parents to Nashville, Tenn., where he lived until the breaking-out of the war, when - he went North and enlisted at Lawrenceburg, Ind., in the Seventh Regiment Indiana Vol- unteers, for three months, and re-enlisted for three years in the same regiment, and served until the expiration of his term of service, with Gen. James Shields, whose forces were consolidated with the Army of the Potomac, in the First Corps, and, after the death of Gen. Reynolds, at Gettysburg, became a part of the Fifth Corps. Subject was in battles of Philippi, Winchester, Greenbrier and Spottsylvania Court House, and two days' fight in Wilderness, and Cold Harbor, Fred- : ericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, where subject was taken prisoner and held four days, and recaptured, and the siege of Petersburg, Va., and was discharged in Sep- tember, 1864, at Indianapolis, and was em- ployed as messenger for the Adams Express Company from Nashville to Chattanooga for one year. He went to St. Louis, Mo., and entered the police department, and became

Clerk in the Fourth District, and promoted to Clerk at police headquarters, and finally became Sergeant, headquarters, at night. In December, 1872, he went to work for Sam- nel C. Davis & Co., and was salesman in their dry goods house; also traveled in Southern Illinois until 1881, when he entered the em- ploy of A. T. Stewart & Co., of Chicago, re- maining six months, and, July 1, 1881, he went to work for William H. Kellogg & Co., of St. Louis, Mo., and, July 1, 1882, he left the St. Louis house, since which time he has traveled for the main house of Charles P. Kellogg & Co., of Chicago, for sale of clothing, in Illinois and has resided in Effingham since May, 1881. He lived in St. Louis from 1866 to 1881, where he was mar- ried, in 1870, to Miss Emily Rudolph, of St. Louis.

WILLIAM CURSON, Iumber - dealer, Effingham, was born in Lincolnshire. Eng- land, April 12, 1832. At the age of eight- een, he came to the United States, and his parents settled at Batavia, Clermont Jo .. Ohio, where our subject served a three-years' apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, and then moved to Shelbyville, Ind., in 1854, and worked as a journeyman there for five years, then moved to Delphi. Carroll Co., Ind, and began taking contracts there in 1859, and moved to Illinois in 1866. He bought 160 acres of prairie land in Lucas Township, which he improved for a short time, when he came to Effingham. where he formed a partnership with his father in 1866, and, under the style of Curson & Son, con- tractors and builders, continued until 1876, a period of ten years; put up the Presbyterian Church, two hotels at the railroad, and a large number of business houses and resi- dences. The father died May 10, 1876, and our subjeet formed a partnership with his brother, J. A. Curson, under the firm name

BIOGRAPHICAL:

of W. Curson & Bro., in May, 1876, and en- gaged in contracting and building, and at the same time established lumber-yards at the corner of Washington and Banker streets, where they keep all kinds of dressed lumber and building materials. In April, 1882, he discontinued building, to devote his entire attention to the lumber trade, and, in May, 1882, established another lumber-yard on Jefferson and Willow streets. Their yards are supplied from the Chicago markets and the pineries of Michigan and Alabama. His father, Thomas Curson, was born in Lynn, England, in 1810; married Miss Maria Den- nis, of Lynn, and had three sons, of whom subject is the eldest. The father came to the United States in 1850, and settled at Bata- via, Ohio. He followed carpentering all his life. He was a Republican in politics, and served as Alderman in Delphi, Ind. Our subject served under the first call for three- months' troops, in the Ninth Indiana Volun- teer Infantry, and was also in the Forty-sec- ond Indiana in the pursuit of Morgan when on his famous raid. Mr. Curson is a Repub- lican, and served two terms -- 1876-80-as Alderman of Effingham from the First Ward. He was married, in 1861, to Miss Sarah E. Wolfe, of Shelby County, Ind. They have seven children living.

JOHN DAUB, produce merchant, Effing- ham, was born on the River Rhine, Prussia, Germany, January 19, 1829, son of Peter and Margaret (Fronetz) Daub, natives of Ger- many, he a farmer, born in 1789 and died in his native country; she born in 1802, and died near New York City in 1870. They were the parents of three children. Our subject received his education in his native country, and came to the United States May 7, 1852, landing in New York. He traveled and worked in several States, and, in 1856, came to Waterloo, this State, and from there

to the Southern States, where he stayed till the breaking-out of the rebellion, when he returned to this State and settled in Prairie du Rocher, where he resided till 1868, when he came to Effingham, where he was married, April 12, 1869, to Miss Agatha Bussemeyer, born in Prussia, daughter of Henry and Mary (Meckman) Bussemeyer, natives of Germany, he born in 1797 and died in his native land in 1861; she born in 1800, and is still living with her son. Mr. and Mrs. Daub have two children-Herman, born August 16, 1876; and Maggie, born November 24, 1878. Our subject has been engaged in the produce bus- iness nearly twenty years, and now has a large store. He is a member of the Catholic Church, and in politics is a Republican.

CAPT. HENRY A. DENTON, saddler and harness manufacturer, Effingham, was born in Meade County, Ky., December 9, 1837. He learned the saddler's trade at Branden- burg, Ky., and worked with his brother there and at Owensboro, Ky. He enlisted, August 12, 1862, in the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry. He was elected First Lieutenant of Company C of that regiment, and promoted to the Cap- taincy February 4, 1863, and served till the close of the war, and was mustered out Au- gust 20, 1865. The Twelfth Kentucky was a part of Gen. Wolford's Independent Bri- gade, and was in the pursuit of Morgan in Ohio and Indiana, and was in the East Ten- nessee campaign under Gen. Burnside, and was attached to Stoneman's cavalry during the Georgia campaign, and were in a large number of battles, and in the Saltville raid. After the war, he came to Paris, Ill., in 1865, where he formed a partnership with his brother in the harness business, and contin- ned there until 1881. He came to Effingham in October, 1881, and took charge of the present shop for Mr. Joe Partridge. The shop employs three hands. He was married.

EFFINGHAM CITY AND DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP.

September 19, 1871, to Miss S. C. Partridge, of Paris, Ill. They have one son living- Guy P .- and two deceased-Richard C. and Josephı R.

THOMAS DOBBS, farmer, P. O. Effing- ham, was born in Georgia, seven miles from Milledgeville, October 15, 1829. When three years of age, his parents removed to Tennes- see, remaining a year, and then, about 1833, moved to Shelbyville, Ill., where his father was engaged in blacksmithing until about the breaking-out of the Mexican war. Our subject aided his father in the shop, at blow- ing and striking, until he enlisted, in 1846, in Col. Nube's First Illinois Infantry, Company D, Capt. Reed, and went across the plains to Santa Fé, N. M. They were sixty days from Fort Leavenworth to Santa Fé, marched in file by the wagon trains, and suffered greatly from fatigue. They were ordered to join Gen. Scott, and reached Puebla, when peace was made. He was in the battle of Tous, where he was wounded in the breast. He then re- turned by the old Santa Fé trail across the plains. After his return from the Mexican war, he drove a stage from Collinsville to an Illinois town (now East St. Louis) for about six years, on different routes. He next worked on a farm near Jacksonville, for Ju- lins Pratt, about four years. He was mar- ried at the age of twenty-five, and settled near where Beecher City now is, in this county, where he engaged in farming, and kept a grocery in Greenland till 1861. He raised a company, which was mustered into the Thirty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, July 3, 1861, and subject was elected Cap- tain of this company, which was Company K. In November, 1862, he was wounded at the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark., by a cannon shot, in the leg, notwithstanding which he still remained with his company during the siege of Corinth, and going into the battle

with a crutch and cane. He was also at Stone River and Perryville, Ky., after which his limb became so inflamed that he was com- pelled to resign. Of the 101 men that en- listed in Company K, there were but sixteen mustered out at the close of the war. Nine- teen were killed and wounded at Pea Ridge, and all of the company received wounds but three. Capt. Dobbs returned home in No- rember, 1862, and, in the latter part of 1863, he raised a company for the 100-days service, and went out as its Captain. It was Com- pany D, of the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Regiment, and he served with it until the expiration of its term, when the men were mustered out at Springfield. At the request of many citizens, he agreed to take charge of raising another company, to avoid the draft. He began on Saturday, and in ten days went out as Captain of this company, to Murfrees- boro, Tenn., where his company became a part of the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and he was pro- moted in a short time to the rank of Major, and, soon after, commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Illinois, and remained in camp at Tullahoma, Tenn., until the close of the war, and was mustered out at Springfield, Ill., in the fall of 1865. After the war, he settled perma- nently in Effingham, and was elected its City Marshal in 1866, and served in that capacity for eleven years until he was elected Sheriff, in 1876, and re-elected in 1878, serving four years as Sheriff of Effingham County. He retired from office in 1880, and has since been engaged in farming. He was married, first, to Elizabeth Miller, who died leaving one son. Peter, now a resident of Effingham. Our subject's second marriage was with Maggie Maxfield. who died leaving two daughters- Tuscombia and Savannah, both of whom are living. His third wife was a Miss

BIOGRAPHICAL:

Green. They have but one daughter-Man- ilah.

JOHN H. DUFFY, deceased, was born in County Dublin, Ireland, in 1829, son of Dan and Alice Mary (Rigney) Duffy, both born and died in Ireland. The father was a ba- ker Our subject received his schooling in his native country, and came to the United States in 1845, landing in New York, where he worked in a wholesale house. He was married, in St. Louis, Mo., February 3, 1858, to Miss Mary Marten, born January 7, 1835, in Blount County, Tenn., daughter of O. D. and Jane Marten, both born in the United States. Our subject worked most of his life on railroads. He was foreman on the Illinois Central, and also worked for the narrow gauge railroad, in whose employ he was at the time of his death, which occurred Octo- ber 11, 1881, in Mason, this county. He left a wife and seven children-Patrick Hen- ry, Sarah E., John R., Mary C .. Martha M., Margueretta M. and Nancy Ellen. In poli- tics, our subject was a strong Democrat; was a member of the Catholic Church, and also of the Masonic fraternity. Mrs. Duffy now keeps the St. Louis Hotel, situated on the southwest corner of the square, which offers first-class accommodations to all.

GEORGE H. ENGBRING, merchant and banker, Effingham, was born in village of Epe, Prussia, April 27, 1825, where he was raised on a small farm, and followed farming there until 1847, when he came, via New Or- leans, to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he engaged in merchandising, and kept a grocery and no- tion store for twelve years. In the fall of 1864, he came to Illinois and settled in Effingham, where he bought property, and, in 1867, established a general store, and, for the last ten years, has been located at the corner of Third and Washington streets, the old stand of John Mette, where one of the

first stores in Effingham was opened. Mr. Engbring keeps a general stock of goods, and conducts a good trade. September 1, 1881, he became a partner in the firm of Eversman. Wood & Engbring, which opened a private bank in Effingham, and his interest in the institution is represented by his son William. Mr. Engbring has been a member of the City Council, and has served as Supervisor sever- al years. He is one of the Trustees of St. Anthony's Church and School. He was mar- ried, in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 2, 1856, to Catharine Bodker, of Cincinnati, born in Prussia, and who was the school-mate of our subject in Prussia. They have five children -three sons and two daughters-Henry, a Professor of Philosophy in the Catholic Col- lege at Quincy, Ill .; William, clerk in the bank; John, Mary and Anna.

DR. HENRY EVERSMAN. of Eversman, Wood & Engbring, bankers, Effingham, was born in Iburg, Hanover, Germany. February 23, 1837, son of Francis F. and Charlotte (Tieren) Eversman, he a physician, born in Alfhausen, Hanover, Germany, in September, 1807; she, in Osnabruck, Hanover, Germany. and is sixty-five years old-the father also living. They are the parents of three chil- dren. Our subject received his early educa- tion in the parochial schools of his native country and Cincinnati, Ohio, and afterward attended St. Xavier's College, of Cincinnati, for four years, and was also for three years a \ student in the Ohio Medical College of the same city. He also read medicine with his father, and, on March 1, 1861, he was ap- pointed House Physician to Commercial Hos- pital, Cincinnati. In January, 1862, he was appointed, by President Lincoln, as Assistant Surgeon of Volunteers, becoming Surgeon after a service of six months. He was as- signed to staff and hospital duty at Lexington and Louisville, Ky., Cincinnati, Ohio, and

H. Bernhard

EFFINGHAM CITY AND DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP.

for the last nineteen months of his service he was Chief Medical Officer at Johnson's Isl- and. This was from February 1, 1864, to September 1, 1865, at which latter date he returned home, and came to Effingham, en- gaging in mercantile business, in which he continued until September 1, 1881, at which date he became a member of the firm of Eversman, Wood & Engbring. Thoy opened a private bank on the latter date, which has since been in successful operation, our sub- ject remaining one of the managing partners. Mr. Eversman was married, October 28, 1865, in Teutopolis, this county, to Miss Caroline Waschefort, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is thirty-six years of age. She is the daughter of John F. and Mary (Drees) Waschefort, natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Eversman have four children-Louisa, Mary. Elizabeth and Henry. Our subject was Mayor of Effingham for two terms-1870 -1871. He is a member of the Catholic Knights of America, and also of the Catholic Church. In politics, he is a Democrat.

JOHN C. EVERSMAN. merchant, Effing- ham, was born in the city of Osnabruck, Han over, Germany, September 11, 1840. He was five years old when his parents came to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he lived until IS52. He left Cincinnati. Ohio, May 5, 1852, and arrived at Teutopolis, Ill., May 15, coming in wagons. The village of Teutopolis had then about ten houses, and Effingham was not laid out, having only two log cabins on the Na- tional road. Our subject was educated in the public schools at Tentopolis and Cincin- nati. Ohio, and at St. Louis University, in charge of the Jesuits, and left school in 1859 to teach in the village, and continued for two six-month terms. He then entered the om- ploy of Mr. Waschefort as a clerk in his store. He enlistod at the second call for troops, in July 1, 1861, for three years, in

Company B, Eighth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry. He served with the regiment for eighteen months; was at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth, and other battles. He went with his company to Holly Springs, Miss., when he was transferred, by order of Gen. Grant, to the Department of Ohio, and reported to his brother, Dr. Henry Eversman, and served in the medical depart- ment as Steward, stationed at Lexington, Ky., until his time expired. He was mustered out at Springfield in 1865, and returned to Tentop- olis, where he taught a term of school, then entered the employ of Mr. John F. Wasche- fort, as salesman in his store at Effingham, where he has remained ever since. He was elected City Clerk of Effingham in 1SS1, for two years. He was also Chief of the Fire Department here for five years. He was married, in 1868, to Miss Frances Gibbons. of Paris, Ill. She was born in St. John, N. B., the daughter of an English sea Captain. Mr. and Mrs. Eversman have one son and one daughter living, and one son and a daughter died when young.

GEORGE H. EWERS, merchant tailor, Effingham, was born in the town of Herz- lake, Hanover, Germany, December 5, 1834. At the age of fifteen, he came, in company with his brother, to the United States, locat- ing at Cincinnati, Ohio. His father was a tailor in Germany, and our subject served a two-years apprenticeship with him before coming. He worked at tailoring in Cincin- nati, Ohio, from June, 1850, to 1863, as a journeyman. In the latter year. he removed to Oldenburg, Ind., where he established a tailor shop, which he ran two and a half years, with good success, and he returned to Cincinnati, Ohio, remaining thero until 1867, and then came to Effingham in June of that year, and opened a merchant tailoring estab- lishment on the north side of the public B

BIOGRAPHICAL:

square, which he has conducted ever since, with good success. He omploys three assist- ant journoymen, and carries a full line of foreign and domestic cloths and cassimeres, etc. He was married, in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1857, to Miss Agnes Moemke, of that city, and has four sons and two daughters living- Frank, Anna, Mary, Charles, John, Joseph.

FRANK H. EWERS, Cashier Effingham Bank, Effingham, was born February 13, 1860, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (See sketch of George H. Ewers.) He was educated in St. Joseph's College, l'eutopolis, Ill., which he left at the age of eighteen to assist his father in tailoring, and, in October, 1880, was ap- pointed Cashier of the Effingham Bank, where he still remains.

JOHN J. FELDHAKE, merchant, Effing- ham, was born in Douglas Township, Effing- ham County, August 15, 1850. He was raised on a farm until twelve years of age. He began at the age of fifteen to learn the tinner's trade, after which he entered a hardware store in Effingham, and clerked for one man seven years. He formed a partner- ship with his brother, the late Joseph Feld- hake, in May, 1873, and continued about two years in the hardware trade, when he went to Waco, McLennan Co., Texas, and opened a hardware store, which he conducted five years. and then sold out to his brother Barney, and returned in January, 1880, and established himself in the present store, under the old firm name, but our subject is the sole pro- prietor. His business room is 100 feet deep and twenty-five feet in width, and includes a large stock of hardware, stoves and tinware, employing two men in tin shop, located in second story, and one as assistant in store. His father, Joseph Feldhake, was a native of Prussia, Germany.

COL. JOSEPH W. FILLER, County Clerk, Effingham City, was born in Perry

County, Ohio, May 4, 1828. He entered the office of the Western Post at Somerset, Ohio, at the age of eleven. and at sixteen was a journeyman, and traveled over eighteen States as a "jour " printer, and has published thir- teen papers. He came to Ewington, a " tramping jour " printer, in 1857, and found it the printer's El Dorado, finding employ- ment on the Effingham Pioneer, then pub- lished by W. B. Cooper and Mr. Burton. Three months after his arrival, he gained control of the Pioneer, Mr. Cooper selling it out in shares, Mr. Filler buying the shares in a little time. He moved the paper to Effingham in the fall of 1860, and continued it here until the breaking-out of the war. Our subject had served in the Mexican war, having enlisted June 9, 1846, in the Third Ohio, and was made a Sergeant on the or- ganization of the company. served one year, and became Second Lieutenant in September, at Matamoras, Mexico. He returned in 1847 and raised a company in Perry County, Ohio, and was its Captain. It became the Fifth Ohio Regiment, under Col. Early, and saw active service from Vera Cruz to City of Mexico, returning to Cincinnati in 1848. The news of the firing on Star of the West in Charleston Harbor was received here on Thursday, and Capt. Filler telegraphed on Friday to Adjt. Gen. Mather that a company was ready for service, having only one se- cured, and, Tuesday morning, he left for Springfield with 102 of the largest and finest men in the company. This was in a strong Democratic county, and opposed to the war. His company went into camp at Springfield, and were assigned to the Eleventh Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, and were on duty at Camp Hardin and Bird's Point, Mo. Our subject went in as a Captain and became Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment. Col. Filler returned home a short time, and re-enlisted in the

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History of Effingham county, Illinois, Part 38

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co. Number of Pages: 650

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 650